Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the flare, shown here in teal as
that is the color typically used to show light in the 131 Angstrom
wavelength, a wavelength in which it is easy to view solar flares. The
flare began at 10:38 PM ET on Jan. 22, peaked at 10:59 PM and ended at
11:34 PM - NASA

While average global temperature will still
fluctuate from year to year, scientists focus on the decadal trend. Nine
of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since the year 2000,
as the Earth has experienced sustained higher temperatures than in any
decade during the 20th century. As greenhouse gas emissions and
atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to rise, scientists expect
the long-term temperature increase to continue as well. (Data source:
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Image credit: NASA Earth
Observatory, Robert Simmon)